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Akira Corassani

TRAINING: I wake up at 7 am Monday to Saturday and my day consists of 2-3 sessions throughout each day. I have a set schedule that mixes up sparring, wrestling, strength & conditioning, jiu-jitsu and pad work. The intensity of the sessions varies; everything is planned for peak performance when fight day comes.

When and why did you start training for fighting? Van Damme influenced me a lot, and where I was living you had to defend yourself from the other kids. I started martial arts when I was around seven years old. At the age of 14, soccer became my life and not until the age of 22 did I find MMA.What ranks and titles have you held? Black on Red in Tae Kwon Do and a Purple belt in BJJ

Do you have any heroes? My mother

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? It means that I did something right and all the hard work paid off. A new journey may now begin!

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? I got into a 3D graphics school but dropped off to pursue this path of becoming a Ninja

What was your job before you started fighting? Freelance Web and graphics designer

Getty Images reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this image or clip. If you violate our intellectual property you may be liable for: actual damages, loss of income, and profits you derive from the use of this image or clip, and, where appropriate, the costs of collection and/or statutory damages up to $150,000 (USD).